Aminu Imam
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Honorable Justice Omotosho, has adjourned the hearing of the case between the Northern Broadcast Media Owners Association (NBMOA) Board of Trustees and Network Arewa24 Limited, operators of the Arewa24 TV channel, to March 25, 2025.
The NBMOA alleges that Arewa24 is operating illegally in Nigeria without the necessary licenses, which they argue disrupts the legal and competitive media landscape. The lawsuit also names several other defendants, including the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), MultiChoice Nigeria, and StarTimes Nigeria.
At today’s hearing, MultiChoice Nigeria, the 6th defendant, filed a counter-affidavit and a preliminary objection to the originating summons. In response, Justice Omotosho granted an adjournment to allow the plaintiff time to address the counter-affidavit and objection.
However, the 3rd defendant, the Federal Ministry of Information, and the 7th defendant, StarTimes Nigeria, were notably absent from the proceedings. The court has ordered that hearing notices be served to these parties before the next hearing date.
The Chairman of the NBMOA Board of Trustees, Alhaji (Dr.) Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, reiterated the association’s commitment to ensuring lawful broadcasting standards in Nigeria. “We are determined to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s broadcasting environment through legal and regulatory compliance”, he stated.
The lawsuit, initially filed in November 2024, names several key defendants, including the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), MultiChoice Nigeria, and StarTimes Nigeria.
The outcome of this case is expected to have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s broadcasting and media regulation framework.
Stakeholders in the industry are closely monitoring the proceedings, as the ruling could set a precedent for addressing unlicensed broadcasting operations and strengthening regulatory compliance in the sector.
The next hearing is scheduled for March 25, 2025, when the court will further deliberate on the matter.
